Car-coupling



(No Model.)

G. A. GUICE.

GAR COUPLING. No. 394,357. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

SZXFI z n 55 5. In 5 5:: fgf d cwcgw/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. GUICE, OF MEADVILLE, MISSISSIPPI.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,357, dated December 11, 1888.

Application filed July 14, 1888. Serial No. 279,957. (No model.)

To cuZ'Z whom it may concern:

be it known that I, GEORGE A. GUICE, of Meadville, in the county of Franklin and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Car-Couphugs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this speciiication.

My invention relates to an improvement in automatic car-couplings; and it consists in the combination of the draw-head provided with suitable vertical openings, laterally-moving jaws placed in the openings and provided with pins or projections upon their outer sides, springs for operating the jaws, and an operating-lever which is so bent as to extend around three sides of the coupling-head, upon which it is pivoted, and which operates the springs, which are secured at their front ends to the projections upon the jaws, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to produce an automatic car-coupling of what is known as the arrowhead type, and in which the operating-lever moves the two springs at the same time, thereby separating the jaws, so as to allow the coupling-link to be withdrawn.

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a car-coupling embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the 0perating-lever alone.

A represents the coupling-head, which will be of any desired construction, and which has the usual opening, B, in its front end to receive the end of the coupling-link, and two lat eral recesses or openings, at, in which the vertiupper ends of these jaws extend to within a short distance of the top of the coupling-head, while the lower ends of the jaws project downward below the openings B to any desired extent. The ends of these jaws bear against the body of the coupling-head, and any strain which is brought to bear upon the jaws is transferred through them directly to the coupling-head itself.

Secured to the outer side of each one of these jaws,-and projecting horizontally outward through the side of the coupling-head, is a projection, I, to which the front end of the fiat or other suitably-shaped spring, J, is secured. As here shown, the springs are made flat and are secured at their rear ends to the side of the coupling-heath while their front ends extend forward slightly beyond the front edges of the jaws. These springs have sufficient tension to keep the jaws pressed inward with such force that it is impossible for any ordinary jerking or shaking of the cars to disconnect them from the couplinglink that is used. These jaws exert a sufficient frictional contact against opposite sides of the coupling-link to hold the link in any position desired for the purpose of coupling either high or low cars when they run together.

The operating'lever O is pivoted upon either the top or bottom of the coupling-head, and is bent at right angles upon each side of the head, so as to project in between the outer sides of the head and the inner sides of the springs, as shown. The lever does not extend straight across the top of the coupling-head, but is placed at a suitable angle thereto, and those vertical parts g which extend along opposite sides of the coupling-head are so shaped that when the outer horizontal end of the lever is forced backward these vertical parts will bear against the inner sides of the springs and force them outward from the sides of the coupling head, carrying the jaws with them. Owing to the shape of the lever, which is bent as here shown, it exerts a sufficient amount of frictional contact against the inner side of the springs to hold'them in any de sired position without the help of a ratchet or holding device of any kind. By bending the lever, as here shown, it will be seen that it extends along the three sides of the coupling-head, operates both of the springs and jaws at once, and then holds them in whatever position they are placed. lVhen the springs are forced backward by the lever, the jaws are also forced backward, moving the jaws outward, so that they will not couple when the cars run together. \Vhen the front end of the lever is forced forward again, the springs cause the jaws to snap inward and engage with the coupling-link. The jaws being spring-actuated, the coupling is automatic in its operation, and hence there is no need of the brakeman ever venturing between the ears for the purpose of coupling them together. An operating-rod can be connected to the lever here shown and extend to the top of the cars, it it should be desired to operate the coupling from that point. lleretofore spring-actuated jaws have been used in 0011- neetion with coupling-levers; but no lever has holds the sprin by frictional contact alone, and hence no other devices are needed for the purpose of holding the jaws open when The lever here shown it is desired that they shall not couple when the cars run together.

Having thus described my invention, I claini The combination of the draw-head, the vertical jaws having a lateral movement in suitable recesses inside of the head, pins or proj ections secured to their outer sides, sprin connected at their front ends to the projections for the purpose of moving the jaws, and the operating-lever, which is pivoted upon. the draw-head and is bent at right angles upon each side thereof, so as to project down between its sides and the inner sides ,of the springs, and which lever is so shaped that it will hold the springs open, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' G. A. GUICE.

\Vitnesses: Y

11. A. LEHMANN, PHILIP MAURO. 

